At this weekend
’s annual Garlic Tennis Tournament, a few local players took
home titles – and the garlic. Gilroy’s Elena Ayala and Patrick
McBrearty defeated Marcus Hughes and Mary Jenney, also of Gilroy,
to win the mixed 4.5 doubles division. Jaime LeBlanc of Morgan Hill
won the women’s 3.0 singles title.
At this weekend’s annual Garlic Tennis Tournament, a few local players took home titles – and the garlic.
Gilroy’s Elena Ayala and Patrick McBrearty defeated Marcus Hughes and Mary Jenney, also of Gilroy, to win the mixed 4.5 doubles division. Jaime LeBlanc of Morgan Hill won the women’s 3.0 singles title.
Instead of plaques or trophies, tournament co-directors Susan Dodd and Barbara Hauer presented glasses bearing the tournament’s logo and filled with garlic cloves to the winners of each division.
“The directors get to choose the awards,” Dodd said. “We like to give away practical awards instead of plaques.”
The tournament’s National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) competition levels ranged from 3.0 to 4.5. Professional tennis players are rated 6.0.
In its 26th year, the single-elimination tournament, which is put on by the Gilroy Tennis Club, drew about 175 players from all over the Bay Area. They competed in 16 divisions, divided by gender and skill level, on Saturday and Sunday at Las Animas Park, Gilroy High and Gavilan College.
This year, five division finals featured local players. Those who competed earn points for Grand Prix events, the top eight of which move on to the Northern California championships.
Last year’s tournament was named “Tournament of the Year” by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) for the 17th time, as voted on by players from all over Northern California.
On Saturday, the busiest day of the tournament, competition went on from 8am to 11pm at night. Even during the last match late that night, Dodd said the bleachers at Las Animas were full of fans watching the action.
“I think every year, (the tournament) gets better,” Dodd said. “It’s a fun thing. A lot of work (to put together), but fun.”
This year, Dodd said the tournament garnered more sponsorship support than it had in the past. Local businesses contributed $2,500 to this year’s event and daily lunch was provided to players and volunteers by Johnny Carino’s and Quizno’s. The sponsorship total was five times last year’s contribution.
About 30 volunteers made this year’s tournament run smoothly.
Following are the tourney finalists:
Women’s Singles – 3.0
Champion: Jaime LeBlanc (Morgan Hill) def. Loretta Stone (Watsonville) 6-1,6-3
Men’s Doubles – 3.5
Runners-up: Krishna Bhola (MHill) and Gary Melching (MHill)
Men’s Doubles – 4.0
Champions: John Paveza (MHill) and Bob Schuman (MHill)
Men’s Doubles – 4.5
Runners-up: Patrick McBrearty (Gilroy) and Stephen Thiessen (MHill)
Mixed Doubles – 4.5
Champions: Elena Ayala (Gilroy) and Patrick McBrearty (Gilroy)
Runners-up: Mary Jenney (Gilroy) and Marcus Hughes (Gilroy)
